Drier



Nov. 11, 1952 o. D. MURRAY DRIER 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 13, 1948 INVENTOR Orvcll D. Murray omww/M/VW l ATTORNEYS Nov. l1, 1952 o. D. MURRAY 2,617,203

' DRIER Filed oct. 15,1948 'rsheets-sheetz r l .N o,

,c INVENTOR.

Orvul D. Murray BY ATTORNEYS Nov. 11, 1952 o, D, MURRAY 2,617,203

DRIER Filed Oct. 15, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

Orvul D. Mur roy v 1 6 By F1a-l2 @fw w3@ ATTORNEYS Nov. l1, 1952 o. D. MURRAY DRIER 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 13. 1948 FIG. 2O

INVENTOR.

Orvcll D. Murray 4 ATTORNEYS Nov. ll, 1952 o. D. MURRAY 2,617,203

DRIER Filed Oct. 13, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG-25 INVENTOR. Orvol D. Murray ATTORNEYS Nov. 11, 1952 o D. MURRAY DRIER Filed Oct. 13. 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. Orvul D. Murray BYu/)b V Z Z ATTORNEYS Nov. 1l, 1952 o. D. MURRAY DRIER 7 sheets-sheet 7 Filed Oct. 15. 1948 INVENTOR. y Orvol D. Murray of Hymn) ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 11, 1952 UNITED STATES OFFICE DRIER Grval D. Murray, Fort Collins, Colo.

Application October 13, 1948, Serial No. 54,326

(Cl. .t4- 82) 16 Claims.

This invention relates to dryers for clothes and the like, and more particularly to a dryer in which air is heated and passed onto or through the articles being dried, which, in the case of clothes, are preferably rotated in a hollow perforated drum or the like.

Previous dryers of the rotary drum type have usually been constructed so that the machinery and working parts are relatively inaccessible for inspection, adjustment or repair. Also, when the construction is such that clothes or similar articles may be placed in the drum from one end, the drum has usually been supported as an overhanging weight, thus either being inadequately supported or requiring an unduly large shaft and bearings. Also, the motor and drive for rotating the drum is then located at the end opposite the opening, and therefore at the back of the dryer, where it is in a relatively inaccessible position. Sometimes the air intake has been located so close to the air exhaust that the moist air from the exhaust is merely reintroduced, in large part, through the intake. Also, if the air is heated electrically, an undue amount of change in the design of the dryer must be made in order to provide a dryer in which the air for drying may be heated by gas.

Among the objects of the present invention are to provide an improved dryer for clothes and the like; to provide such a dryer which includes a rotary, perforated drum, in which the clothes to be dried are placed; to provide one form of such dryer in which access to the drum is obtained at the top; to provide another form of such dryer in which access to the drum is obtained at the front, at one end of the drum; to provide such a dryer in which the drum is adequately supported, in the case of each form; to provide such a dryer in which either electricity or gas may be utilized as the heating medium without substantial change in the general arrangement of parts; to provide one form of such dryer in which articles other than clothing, such as dishes, toweling, and similar articles which may be dried in stationary position, can be accommodated; to provide such a dryer in which access to all of the operating parts is relatively simple and easy; to provide such a dryer in which access to all of the operating parts may be obtained from the front; and to provide such a dryer` which, in its various forms, is suiciently economical in cost to warrant manufacture on a competitive basis.

Additional objects and the novel features of this invention will become apparent from the .i

description which follows, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation, with certain parts broken away to show the interior construction, of one form of dryer constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section taken along offset line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a three-dimensional drawing of a front removable section of the dryer of Figs. 1 and 2, which removable section houses the operating parts, along with a portion of the bottom of the dryer;

Fig. 4 is an exploded, three-dimensional drawing of a portion of the drive and` drum shafts at the iront drum bearing;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section taken through the front bearing;

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the front bearing;

Fig. '7 is a vertical section through the rear drum bearing;

Fig. 8 is an elevation of the rear drum bearing;

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of a novel lint catcher, forming a part of the dryer of Fig. 1;

Fig. l0 is a transverse section of the lint catcher, taken along line llll0 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a three-dimensional drawing of a drying rack, adapted to be substituted for the 1dlrum and to be utilized in drying towels or the Fig. 12 is a three-dimensional drawing of a pan which is also adapted to be substituted for the drum and to be utilized in drying dishes or the like; o

Fig. 13 is a three-dimensional view of the dryer of Fig. 1, with the cover open and the rack of Fig. ll substituted for the drum; Y

Fig. 14 is a central vertical section of the lower portion of the dryer, illustrating the dryer of Fig. 1 provided with an alternative form of heating unit, in which gas is utilized;

Fig. 15 is a vertical section taken along line I 5-15 of Fig. 14, showing a gas burner and heat exchanger, a portion of the heat exchanger beiigng broken away to show the interior construcion;

Fig. 16 is a vertical section taken along line lli-I6 of Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a horizontal section, looking downwardly along line Il-i 7 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 18 is a front elevation similar to Fig. 1, with certain parts being broken away to show the interior construction, of another embodiment constructed in accordance with this invention,

in which access to the drum is obtained at the front, through the end of the drum;

Fig. 19 is a vertical section taken along line I 9--I9, through the lower portion of the dryer of Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a three-dimensional view of a portion of the service unit and associated parts in the lower portion of the dryer of Fig. 18;

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along line 2I-;2I of Fig..l8;

Fig. 22.is .a fragmentary front elevation, ion a reduced scale with certain parts broken away to show the interior construction, of a construction similar to that of Figs. 18-21, but having an alternative drive arrangement;

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary central vertical section taken along line 23-23 of Fig. 22;

Fig. 24 is a fragmentary central vertical section illustrating the drive arrangement of Fig. 22 applied to the dryer of Fig. l; and

Fig. 25 is a diagrammatic fragmentary vvertical section, Villustrating a dryer similar to that V.of Fig. 1,-'but ywithout a drum and adapted particularly to be used in drying articles in a stationary position, such as in Fig. V13.

-As illustrated in Figs. 1-3,one embodimentA of a dryer constructed in accordance with this invention may vcomprise a housing H, -in which is installed a drum D anda service unit U, the latter of which contains the operating parts for rotating the drum D and is-accessible from the front-of the housing H. The drum D, as in Fig. 2, may be-cylindrical in shape, having holes or perforations I through which hot air passes to thearticles of clothingvor the like placed in the drum for drying. Access to the drum maybe obtained by lifting a top II of the housing H, and then opening a door I2in the side of thefdrum, which may be hinged at one edge and provided with conventional lockinglugs or .the like at the opposite edge. The top 1I I, as well as the sides i3 and back I4 of the housing H, maybe doublewalled andprovided with .insulation .1.5. A suitable `-controlunit C.,may beprovided, having one or more control dials .ina readily accessible position, as .on the front of the dryer, as in Fig. v1, and preferably Ainstalled in the service unit U. theparts of the saine being conventional'in naturefsothat the temperatureto which thevair is heated .and/,or the speed of movement of the air may be regulated, as well as the drying operation being started and stopped .on time.

Theaservice unit U is adapted to'form the front wall of the housing H, and it is unnecessaryto insulate the housing front or service unit U, since theair to be heated for drying purposes passes through the unit U, thereby insulating the, front and preheating the intake air. .The intake air passes through louvers I6 in a front plate or panel YI1 of the service unit U, and is cleaned by passage through lters I8, mounted on the rear of front plate I1 ateach vside of control unit C. The air then passes downwardly through apassage formed between front plate I1 and an inner plate I9, and then moves past motor 2.0, which is disposed within a Arectangular housing 2l at the lower end of, and disposed centrally With'respect to, the service unit U, asin Fig. 3. A fan 22, which may be directly mountedon-and driven by motor shaft `23, `pulls the -air through the filters I8 and then moves the air past electrical resistance elements 24, which heat the air. The air then strikes a curved baie 25, as in Fig. 2, to be deflected upwardly and against .the drum D. As in Figs. 1 and 3, bars '26 extend diagonally adapted to rrotate in bearings 34.

across the space between plates I1 and I9, in order to force the air to flow into motor housing section 2 I. Also, the side edges 21 of front plate l1 may extend rearwardly so as to fit within or over sides I3 of housing H, to which they are readily attached, as by one or two screws on each side.

As will be evident, the entire service unit U is removable from the front of the dryer, after the drum .D-has been .removed in the vmanner described below. The drivefrom the motor 20 to the drum D may include two stages of V-belt 23 opposite fan 22, and connected by a lower VV-.belt 3D with a large pulley SI, which, along with a small pulley 32, is mounted on a shaft 33 Small pulley 32 is connected by an upper V-belt 35 with a large pulley Y33, the latter being mounted on a drum drive shaft 31 rotatable in .bearings 38 .and 39, respectively mounted on plates I1 and i9. The bearings for shafts 33 and 31 are preferably so constructed Vthat after the drum `D is 'removed in the manner described below and the service unit'U is disconnected'from ythe housing H and pulled out to the front, front Aplate I1 Vmaybe removed and the bearings may .be'slipped oi the ends of .shafts 3.3 and 3?.

VTo lpermit the removal of drum D'from the housing H, the shafts .and bearings forthe drum are preferably so constructed that thedrum yD maybe lifted bodily out through the opening provided when top .I I of Ahousing H is raised, and door I2 of .drum rD is in anuppervposition, as in Fig. 2. YAs in Fig. '4, the drum drive shaft'31 may be provided with a slot d, into which a tongue v13| on the ,front drum lshaft "42 .is adapted to t, tongue 4I being in .alignment with door I2 of drum D .so that tongue 4I will be vertical when door I2 is in toppostion, so that the user ywill know when thedrum Dmay be lifted out .of the housing. The inner bearing 39 `for drive shaft 31, attached `to .plate I9, .is rprovided with a slot 43 at its upper end, .as .in Figs..5 and 6, so rthat the tongue 4I may slide therethrough into engagement `with the groove vL10 in drive .shaft 31, or `the drum shaft may be removed by passage of the tongue VIII through theslot 43. -As in Figs. 2, 7 and 8, lthe reardrum shaft 44 merely rests in .an open top vbearing 45,which is .attached to the back I4 of housing H. Due to .the relatively slow rotation of the drum D, suchas about-5.0 R. P. M., neither the front drum shaft-42 nor the rear drumshaf-,t Ililwill tend to fallor jump` out of the respective bearings. .Also,since a .substantial portion of the 4front drum shaft 42 is supported .by bearing 39, 'there will be no tendency for vthe tongue il to damage the bearing, asby scrap-ing or digging into the same.

As the heated air is deected upwardly by curved baille 25, it passes vint-o .and around the drum D, vthereby picking up .moisture from the clothes or other articles being rotated in the drum, and drying .the saine. .After circulating into and about the drum, the air passes forwardly land down along the Vinner plate I9 of service unit U, thereby tending to preheat the incoming air passngdown .along ythe-other side of plate I9. As the exhaust air passes downwardly, it isdivided into two streams by motor housing ,section 2I, and is discharged through lthe lint catchers L, either to the front .of the dryer, or .to the rear. Thelint catchers Lare of novel construction, being shown in greater detail in Figs. 9 and 10, one half of each lint catcher L comprising one or more layers of wire screen 41 or the like, mounted in a frame 48, and the other half of each lint catcher comprising a solid plate 4S. As in Figs. 1-3, the lowermost portion of housing H comprises a hollow, rectangular space 56, formed between a bottom plate 5I and a vertically spaced plate 52, the latter terminating at a point spaced from the front wall plate 53 of space 56, to provide an opening 54 at the upper front edge of space 56. Plate 53, in turn, is spaced rearwardly of the front of the dryer, to provide a foot space at the front, as in Fig. 2, and also provide an air discharge opening at the front. The lint catchers L may be placed with the screen 47 to the front, so that the exhaust air will be discharged through the screen to the front of the dryer, and the solid plate 49 will blank off or close the opening 54, as in Figs. 2 and 3. Or, the position `of the lint catchers L may be reversed, so that the exhaust air will be discharged into space 53, after passing through the screens 4l', while the solid plate 45 will close or blank off the opening forwardly of plate 53. When the exhaust air is passed into the space 56, it may be -discharged from the dryer at the rear, as through louvers 55, formed in the back I4 of housing H.

The lint catchers L may be adjusted in position from the outside of the dryer, as by providing a small aperture 5l in each side i3 in housing H, shown in Figs. 1 and 13, so that the respective lint catcher may be slid out, reversed in position, and slid back, when it is desired to change the discharge of air from front to back. Also, instead of louvers 55, a suitable pipe or conduit may lead from the back l 4 of housing H to the outside or to a ue or venting device, as in the second embodiment, to be described later. As will be evident from Figs. 1-3, the service unit U is adapted to be slid in and out of position on horizontal plate 52, as to and then past the dotted position of unit U -of Figs. 2 and 3, in which motor housing 2l has been moved to the dotted positions indicated. To support the service unit more adequately, reinforcing members 56, such as bars or channels,

may be disposed beneath housing section 2l, reinforcement being necessary only to about the rear of the housing section 2l, as in Figs. 2 and 3.

Dierent supports for drying diierent typ-es of articles may be substituted for the removable drum D, such as the rack R of Fig. 11 or the pan P of Fig. l2. The rack R is provided with a plurality of cross rods 58, on which towels or other flat work, or woolens or nylon hose and the like, adapted or desired to be dried in a stationary position, may be hung. The pan P, as in Fig. 12, may have a flangev53 extending around its upper edge, and a plurality of holes 60 in the sides and bottom thereof, so that dishes, glassware or other articles which might be broken due to rotation and tumbling about in the drum D, can be placed therein and dried in stationary position. As in Fig. 13, the drum D may be removed, and the rack R placed within the housing H, brackets 6I preferably being provided for supporting the same, while the pan P may be placed in the housing with flanges 59 resting on brackets 6|, shown also in Fig. 25. As will be evident, other types of pans, racks, or the like may be utilized in place of the drum D.

The above embodiment may be converted to the use of gas as a heating fuel, without detracting from the access features of the service unit U, or the passage of the incoming air direct through the service unit, past the motor and through the heater. As in Fig. 14, such embodi-1 ment may be converted to the use of gas, merely by mounting a heat exchanger E in housing section 2| just to the rear of fan 22 (in the position previously occupied by electrical resistance heating elements 24), and positioning a gas burner 62 therebeneath. The heat exchanger E may comprise a rectangular shell 63 provided with a plurality of longitudinal tubes 64, through which the air is blown by fan 22, the hot gaseous products of combustion from burner 62 passing upwardly through the central portion of shell 63, around and between the tubes 64 disposed between bailles 65, the hot gases then passing around and down outside baffles 65, around and between the remaining tubes 64.

The exhaust gases from the heat exchanger pass from the lower end of shell 63, at each side of heat exchanger E, through exhaust conduits 66, each of which, as in Fig. 17, may terminate in a circular section having an inwardly tapering end 6l, so as to more readily t into the bell mouth 68 of a xed exhaust pipe 69. The gas burner l62 is preferably oblong in shape, so as to fit into the space between the exhaust conduits 66, and also to correspond generally to the lateral extent of the central portion of the heat exchanged E, between the battles 65. The heat exchanger E and gas burner 62 are removable, along with the service unit U, and the connection between the converging ends and bell mouths of the respective exhaust conduits 56 and pipes 69, provides a guide and a seal when the service unit U is placed in the housing, and also permits the service unit U to be removed readily by pulling the same out from the housing. The xed exhaust pipes 69 converge and join together into a single, combustion products, exhaust tube 10, which terminates within an exhaust pipe connection 1|, which may be connected to a chimney, or in any other suitable manner to the outside.

The air heated in heat exchanger E is directed toward the curved baifle 25, as explained previously, and is circulated through and about the clothing or other articles being dried in the drum D, the drive to which from motor 26 may be identical with that previously described. The exhaust air from the dryer may be passed to the outside, at the front of the machine, as described previously, by appropriate positioning of the lint catchers L. Or, the lint catchers L maybe positioned as in Fig. 1'7, so that the heated discharge air will pass into a space or duct 72, at each side of the machine, which spaces are formed by partitions 13 and the side walls I3 of the housing H, spaces 12 being bounded at the rear by rear wall i4 of housing H, at the front by walls '14, on the bottom by bottom plate 5I of housing H, and on the top by spaced plate 52 The lower end of the heat exchanger E, as well as the xed exhaust pipes 69, is positioned between partitions 13. The partitions 13 preferably converge toward the rear, following the contour of exhaust pipes 69, while a transverse partition 'l5 extends between the rear ends of partitions 73 and encircles the combustion products tube 16. The exhaust air from spaces l2 may pass into exhaust connection 1| through the opening provided by outwardly flared plates 16, the combustion products tube l' preferably extending beyond or to the rear of the opening, so as to insure that all of the products of combustion will pass to the outside, as through a chimney. The plates 16 extend vertically be` tween bottom plate l and vertically spaced plate 52' vof housing H, while plate 52 extends` acrossthe entire lower half of the housing, between side walls i3, up to the heat exchanger E, and then only over the spaces 12, terminating at the front, however, at the lint catchers L.

` Gas may be supplied to burner 62 through a pipe 11, to which connection is made at the rear of the machine, and which extends through one of the spaces 12 to the front. A transverse pipe 18 .connects .the pipe 11 with a burner inlet pipe 1.9, the transverse pipe 18 being provided' with a -valve 88 and a union 8l or other suitable disconnectable joint, so that when the service unit U is to be removed from the housing H, the valve 80 may be turned off, the union 8| disconnected, and the burner S2 removed along with the lremainder of the service unit U. Air for burners $2 is supplied through louvers 32 in a front plate 83, which extends across the space between partitions 13 when the unit U is in operating position. Plate 83 may also provide support 1for the motor 2G and other parts within the service unit U, by resting on bottom plate 5i or" housing H, while additional support for the heat exchanger E and the service unit may be provided by a vertical plate 8d disposed between the eirhaust conduits 65 and which also extends downwardly to rest on the bottom plate of housing H.

As will be evident, the conversion of the embodiment of Figs. 1 3, to the use of gas as a fuel, requires only the addition of the heat exchanger E, gas burner 62 and the associated exhaust system, and conventional gas burner controls, in adconvenient, the drum may be provided with a v front access opening, such as in the case of drum D' of the dryer of Figs. 18-21, which forms a second embodiment of this invention. Drum D has a front opening formed in a neck 36, as in Fig. 21,

which extends through an aperture in inner plate i9' of service unit U', and to a corresponding aperture in outer plate l1', while a hinged lid e1 may be provided on outer plate I1', to provide access to the drum opening. The rear shaft of drum D may be identical with the rear drum shaft 42 of drum D, and the rear bearing therefor may be similar to bearing 43 of Figs. 7 and 8, except that it may be a closed instead `of an open top bearing, but similarly mounted on-the inner rear wall of the housing. The neck 85 of drum D is provided with a V-grooifed nulle ring Sii, engaged by a V-belt which also engages a small pulley 32, mounted on the shaft 33 on which is also mounted large pulley lll, the latter of which is rotated by a V-belt 3B', also in engagement with a small pulley 2S on shaft 23' of motor 29. The drive to the drum D, in this embodiment, is similar to that of the irst embodiment, except that the V-belt 35 encircles the neck of the drum', and the motor shaft 23", as in Figs. 19 and 21, is somewhat longer than the motor shaft 23 of Fig. 2, as the motor is spaced slightly farther to the rear than the motor of the previous embodiment. ForV additional support of the longer shaft 23',

bearings 89 and 9U, or either, may be mounted on front plate I9 and between pulley 29 and motor 29, respectively, as in Fig. 19, or may be omitted, as in Fig. 21.

In accordance with this invention, the front end of the drum D is supported on V-edged rollers 9i which, as in Fig. 18, engage the pulley ring 88 to each side of the center line of the drum, but between the straight spans of V-belt 35'. As in Fig. 21, each roller 9| may be mounted on a stub shaft 92, attached to the inner plate I9 of service unit U. The stub shafts 92 are preferably mounted on inner plate i9', so that access to the pulleys, V-belts, etc. may be obtained by removing the outer plate l1. When the service unit U' is slid out of the housing H, the lid 81 is opened and the drum supported merely by reaching through neck 86. Also, when the service unit U' is replaced, it is merely slid back into position while the drum is supported in the same manner and the rear shaft of the drum guided into engagement with its bearing.

In order that the dryer will have a minimum vertical height, so as to adapt the same to t under a sink, drain board or the like, the motor 2li and the rectangular housing section 2 l enclosing the same, are preferably placed in a lower position, as in Figs. 19 and 2D. Thus, the housing section 2l of service unit U may rest directly on the bottom plate 5l of the housing H. This requires that the motor be placed farther to the rear than in the previous embodiment, to permit a foot space or ledge to be formed at the front, and it is for this reason that the shaft 23' of the motor is preferably longer than the shaft 23 of Fig. 2. Fan 22 is similarly mounted on the opposite end of the motor shaft 23', while electrical resistance heating elements 24 may be disposed across the rear opening of the housing section 2|', in order to heat the air moved past the same by the fan. The deflecting plate or baffle 25', as in Figs. 19 and 20, is provided with a central section 93, which extends down to the bottom plate 5| of the housing H', and which is joined at its edges to a pair of partitions 94 which form a pair of ducts or channels between the bottom plate 5I and spaced plate 52", forward of section 93. The housing section 2| is also adapted to slide between partitions 9&3, to the position shown in Fig. 2G. The two outer ducts join together at the rear, behind central baffle section 93, and a :due connection 95 may be provided for leading the discharge-d air to an outside vent, chimney, or the like. Of course, louve-rs may be provided at the rear, as in the first embodiment. As before, the front edge of plate 52 terminates short of front wall 53 of each of the ducts, so that the lint catchers L may be placed in a position, either to discharge the exhaust air at the front of the dryer, or through the ducts to the flue connection 95. The lint catchers L, as before, are adapted to be slid in from the sides or mounted in any other suitable manner, so as to be reversible.

The service unit U is similar to the service unit U of Figs. 1-3, being provided with iilters I8 and control unit C, as in Fig. 18, but the motor housing 2 l as in Fig. 19, may be provided with a ledge 9S and an inwardly spaced, short front wall 91, on which bearing 9i! may be mounted. The bottom 98 of housing 2l rests directly on plate 5|, in the well between partitions 94, as shown also in Fig. 20, while the service unit U' may be slid out to and past the dotted position indicated. The housing H', as in Figs.. 18 and 19, is similar to the housing H of Figs. 1-3, the top I I', side walls I3 and rear Wall I4 preferably being double and filled with insulation I5. However, the top II is not a lid, but is joined to the side and rear walls. As will be evident, the embodiment f Figs. 18 to 21 may be converted to gas heating, in a manner similar to that provided for the first embodiment.

As will be evident, various types of drives other than a combination of pulleys and V-belts may be utilized. Thus, as in Figs. 22 and 23, the embodiment of Figs. 18 to 21 may be provided with a gear reduction drive, which includes a bevel pinion I mounted on motor shaft 23' and engaging a bevel gear |0| mounted on the lower end of a vertical shaft |02, adapted to rotate in suitable bearings mounted on brackets |03, in turn mounted on inner plate I9'. A bevel pinion |04 is mounted on the upper end of shaft |02, and is adapted to engage a bevel ring gear |05, mounted on neck 85 of drum D', which also provides considerable speed reduction. The front end of the drum is supported bv V-rollers 9| as before, except that a V-ring I B6 is preferably mounted on the neck 86 of drum D', so as to rest on the V-rollers, but disposed in a position which does not tend to interfere with bevel pinion |04. If desired, the ring gear IIJ- and V-ring |56 may be made as a single part, for attachment to the neck 86 of drum D', although they are desirably made separately and mounted in spaced position.

The embodiment of Figs. 1-3 may also be provided with a gear drive, as in the manner shown in Fig. 24, wherein the motor shaft 23 is provided with a bevel pinion IDG, engaging a bevel gear IDI, the latter being mounted on the lower end of a shaft |02', rotating in bearings in brackets |03. As above, a bevel pinion |14 is mounted on the upper end of shaft |02', but is adapted to engage a bevel gear |01 mounted on drum drive shaft 31. The inner end of shaft 31 may be provided with a slot, and the front drum shaft provided with a cooperating tongue, as in the embodiment of Figs. 1-3. and more particularly in the manner shown in Figs. 4 and 5. It will be understood, of course, that other types of drives between the motor and the drum may be utilized.

If desired, a unit may be made which is adapted to utilize only a rack, pan, or the like, for drying articles in stationary position. in which case it is unnecessary to provide a drive for rotating a drum, as the latter is thus omitted. For such a unit, the housing may be constructed substantially as in Figs. 1-3 and 13, except that a rear bearing for the drum is unnecessary. The service unit for such construction may be made generally as illustrated in Fig. 25, in which motor 2! drives a fan 22. for pulling the air through filters I8, and down through the space between a front plate or panel I7 and an inner plate I9, past motor 20, and then past the electrical resistance heating elements 24, as before. The lint catchers L may be installed in a similar position and used for the same purpose as described previously, and the remaining parts, including motor housing section 2|, may be similar to those of Figs. 1-3, or a motor housing section similar to section 2| of Figs. 18-21 may be provided.

From the foregoing, it will be evident that the dryer of this invention fullls to a marked degree the requirements and objects hereinbefore set forth. An intake air passage in the front wall of the housing reduces the amount of insulation required, and also causes the incoming air to be preheated. The preferred position of the heating unit below the drum causes the circulation oi heated air to the drum to be assisted by the normal rise of such heated air, while the preferred discharge of exhaust air from the bottom of the space within the housing assists in insuring that only the coolest air will be discharged. Rotation of the drum also assists in circulation of the air to and about the articles being dried.

As will be evident, the drum is adequately supported in each embodiment of the invention. In the rst embodiment, a shaft at each end of the drum provides such support, and in the second embodiment, the V-rollers, which preferably engage the V-belt drive ring, provide support at the front. The use of V-rollers in engaging a V-ring maintains a drum having a front opening in lateral alignment and, particularly when used in association with the V-belt drive, simplifies the construction and at the same time provides adequate support. The conversion of the dryer from heating of the air by electricity to heating of the air by gas, is readily accomplished, involving a minimum of change. In the first embodiment, having a removable drum, it is also relatively easy to remove the drum and install a rack or pan for drying articles in stationary position.

Access to all the operating parts of each form of dryer is relatively easy, since such parts are preferably installed in a service unit which can be removed bodily from the housing at the front. Thus, access not only to the motor, fan and heating unit, but also to the air filters and to the controls, is easy. The ease of access to such operating parts is not diminished by conversion of the unit to heating by gas, since the service unit is just as readily removable, in the construction described, as when electricity is used for heating. The preferred form of construction, when heating by gas is utilized, is also safe and effective, since the gas to the burner may be turned olf and the burner removed along with the service unit, and the exhaust connection is preferably such that inter-fitting pipes or conduits are employed. A service unit containing the operating parts and also all wiring, simplifies the installation of such p-arts, and in fact, the entire construction, in which the service unit may be placed in position as the last operation, is simplified by the readiness of access to all parts prior to nal assembly. Thus, manufacturing costs may be reduced to a minimum.

The novel lint catchers of the invention also comprise a valuable feature. These lint catchers not only remove lint from the exhaust air, but arev also adapted to be used in changing the direction or manner of exhaust, merely by reversing the same, so that the exhaust air may be discharged at the front, or through an exhaust space formed in the bottom of the housing. Either embodiment may be provided at the rear with louvers for discharge of the exhaust air, or a suitable flue connection may be utilized.

While certain preferred forms of construction have been illustrated and described, it will be understood that various changes may be made therein, in addition to those indicated, and` also that other embodiments may exist, all without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

i. A dryer comprising a housing having an opening in the front wall thereof; and a service-` unit closing said opening and removable from said housing, said service unit including an enclosedain intakepassage adapted tofornr at least an. portiomoi thefrontwall of.` saidlunit 'and said unittalso. containing means; for heating air to :be passed into-1thespacefwithin said housing; said heatingimeans beingdisposed rearwardly of said frontrlwali and .therlower portion .ofi saidV service unit-rearwardly- "of: said. front wall .occupying Aonly the central portion: of. said.'housing'; v said' front wall'.extendingdownwardly toda rline spaced above and forwardly of "the bottom of said-housing, and

the frontiof:thezlowerfcentral portion ofsaid unit terminatingatpoints" spaced.' from the sides` of said housing; and said. housing 'having an air dischargeiopening; atv saidy line: andion. each. side; of the: lowerfcentral .portion of said. service; unit.

2:.Af dryer'vvv comprising: a housing. having. an opening; in a wall'. thereof.; ae rotatable. drum adapted? to: contain: articles: to.Y be: dried; and mounted in. said. housing; andi a.: service: unit closings` said" opening and. removable; from., said housing, said. unitzhavingianfair intake; adjacent' ltsiupper. end and an enclosedi air' passagez exe tending: downwardly and. then rearwardly-etna pointbeneath said drum,..said service unit? also having a=n1otortand drive meansiorrotating. said drum'disposed in-said air. passage andi removable with said service unit.

3:Af dryerras. dennen.' iniclaim: 2, wherein said drive f means. for .'sai'd drum includes v-beitsi and pulleys.

411A dryerdefinedin claim' 2, wherein said? drive;means:` for saidi drum' includes a. vertical shaft and rgearing;

5:. A .dryer as4 defined in?` claim. 2, wherein said service:unitA is" provided with an air intake and associatedaii iilter, and.` control mechanism, ad-` jaoentithetop ofsaid' airlpassage.

Azdryer as'denedlinclaim 2; wherein said housing# isprovidedf with ay top adapted' to be openedland said drumis removable by being lifted '-Aidryer asdefinedin claimZ', wherein said drum provided with front and rear shafts; an open-top-bearing for eachsaid drum shaft and mounted insaid4 housing; and saidfdrive'means frrotating said drum includes a drive shaft, said diive'sh'aft and one" of I said drum shafts having an-l inter-tting tongue and slot connection.

8') In-adryer, a service unitremovable from a housing" having a rotatable drum therein; said serviceunit including a' front panel adaptedto form the, front oi said housing;l an inner plate spaced fromLs'aidl front panel, said front panel and` inner plate" forming therebetween an. insulatinfg" air' intake' passage in the front of said housing; abearingfor said'drum mounted on said inner' plate; a substantially' rectangular, lower housing'se'ction'disposed rearwardly of' but connected: to saidfront panell and inner plate and forming ai continuationof' said air passage; a

motorand` fan mounted in said lower housing;

section; meansfor heating airdisposed in said lower housingY section rearwardly or' said fan; a drive'shaft; for said drum niountedin'said bearing;A speed reduction4 drive means',` including V- beltsand pulleys, mounted in the'space between' saidfront panel and: inner plate and forminga drive connection` between* said motor and said drum drive' shaft; anair filter mounted on theinner side of said front panel adjacent the top thereof and at each side, sai'dfront panel'having louvers for admission of air to said filters; and control-mechanism having control dials accessible between said louvers, said control mechanismy 122 being;- niountedon:V the inner4 side oir said front panel between said ilters.I

9. A-edryer comprising ahousi-ng having an open irontfandvdouble.walled, insulated sides, rear and top, said top beinghingedso asto form alid; a cylindrical drum having a` plurality of perforations and a.- hinged door, mountedfin said housing;y a pair. of. horizontally extendingl and vertically spaced-plates atfthe bottom-of saidhousing and forn'lnig-f therebetween. an air. discharge passage, said. plates: terminating short of. theiront endhof, saidhousing; a laterally extendingr ver.- tical {partition at the front-edge-of. the lowermost of said.. plates, theuppermostlof. said. plates` terminatingv atV eachside atipoints spacedfrom said verticalA partitionso as. to, provide. an opening leading tothe..passagebetweensaid pla-tes.; aservice unit as vdeiinedin.claim. 8^, saidservicefunit beingadapted'toclose the .frontof .said housing, said lewe); housing section` ofsaid service.. unit occupying only; the lower centrallportonof said housing. beneath saidi drum. and being, disposed between said-openingsleading tothe passagebeftween said bottom platesthe lower.. edge oflsaid front plate vof said service unit being at aboutthe level off theuppermost ofV said housing bottom plates. and beingspaced forwardly ofsaid verti-V ealpartitionso as to form an air discharge open-V ing. at each'side at the front; acurvedlbaie dispose'direarwardly of 'saidheatingg means, and-'extending'be'tween the uppermost of said bottom plates to the rearwall of. said housing,for. de-

ile'ctin'g heated" air. upwardly toward said'drurn;Y

housing; a heat exchanger for transferring heat.

to air movingthrough said'passage and through said heat exchanger, said heat'exchanger including; a rectangularV shell,v and a plurality of.' tubes extending therethrough, the air to be heated being passed'through saidV tubes.; a gas burner mounted on saidservice. unit for supplying hot combustion gases' to said exchanger.; a pair of bailies extending` upwardly in parallel relation toa point spaced from the top ofA said heat exchangershell, so that heated gases may pass upwardlyr from said gas burner around and between the tubes in the central portion. ofjsaid' heat exchanger, and then aroundland down outsideA said baffles; anV exhaustconnection for conveying,v combustion gases fronrsaid exchanger,T

said exhaust connection including interiitting and disconnectable piping carriedby said service,

unitr andsaidhousing, said exhaustconnection;

including a conduitleading 4rearwardly from the bottom of said` shell onV each side of' said' gasv burner to' terminate at an inwardly tapering end; a pipe for supplyingjgas to said burner, a section of said pipe beingv fixed to saidhousing. and a second41 section of' saidV pipe being fixed to saidl service' unit;- aV disengageable connection. joining.

said rst andsecond gas pipe sections and inecluding said inwardly tapering ends anda pair' of* conduits mounted-inl said housing havingjbell mouths to receive said tapered ends, said housing conduits converging and joining to form a single combustion products exhaust conduit; a shut-o valve in said rst gas pipe section adjacent said disengageable connection; said housing being provided with a bottom air discharge passage including a pair of ducts formed between vertically spaced bottom plates and spaced central partitions extending from the front of said housing alongside said combustion products conduits; said housing also being provided with a flue connection at the rear thereof, into which said single exhaust conduit extends, said flue connection having an opening at each side through which exhaust air from said discharge ducts may pass, said housing having an outwardly flaring partition between said spaced bottom plates at each opening; and said rst section of said gas pipe extending from the rear to the front of said housing through one oi said ducts, and said shuto" valve and disengageable gas pipe connection being disposed forward of the front wall of such duct, the front lower edge of said service unit being disposed forwardly and above the front of said ducts.

11. A dryer comprising a housing having an open front and double walled, insulated sides, rear and top; a cylindrical drum mounted in said housing and having a plurality of perforations and a front neck forming an access opening; a pair of vertically spaced Iand horizontally extending plates at the bottom of said housing and laterally spaced, centrally disposed partitions forming between said plates a discharge air passage having a duct at each side and joining at the rear, said plates terminating short of the front end of said housing and said central partitions forming a well therebetween; a vertical partition at the front edge of the lowermost of said plates, the uppermost of said plates terminating at each side at points spaced from said vertical partition, so as to provide an opening leading to the space between said plates; a curved bafe disposed in the lower rear portion of said housing, and extending from the lowermost of said plates and between said partitions to the rear wall of said housing, for deflecting heated air upwardly against said drum; a service unit closing the front of said housing, removable from said housing and including a front panel; an inner plate spaced from said front panel, said front panel and inner plate being adapted to form therebetween an insulating air passage, the lower end of said front panel being spaced forwardly and above the front edge of said lowermost bottom plate, at about the level of said uppermost bottom plate, to form an ah` discharge opening at each side; a lower, substantially rectangular, housing section disposed rearwardly of said front wall but connected to said inner plate and forming a continuation of said air passage, said housing section being normally disposed in said well; a motor and fan mounted in said lower housing section; means for heating air disposed rearwardly of said fan in said lower housing section; a ring having a V-groove mounted on said drum neck; speed reduction drive means, including V-belts and pulleys, mounted in the space between said iront panel and inner plate and forming a drive connection between said motor and said drum, said drive means including a V-belt engaging said V-groove ring; a pair of rollers, each having a V-edge, mounted in said service unit and engaging said V-groove ring to support the forward end of said drum; an air filter mounted on the inside of said front panel adjacent the top thereof and at each side, said front panel having louvers for admission of air to said lters; control mechanism having control dials accessible from the outside and mounted on the inner side of said front panel between said lters; and a reversible lint catcher at each side of said housing, each said lint catcher being half perforate and half imperforate and thereby being adapted to block either the front discharge opening or the opening to said passage between said bottom plates, and to permit the discharge of air from said housing through the opposite opening or passage.

12. A dryer comprising a housing having a drying space adapted to contain articles to be dried and having an opening in the front wall thereof; a service unit closing said opening and removable from said housing, said service unit including an enclosed air passage extending from the upper portion of said unit downwardly and then rearwardly to a point beneath the drying space in said housing; means disposed in the lower portion of said passage for heating air and moving the same into the drying space within said housing; and means for controlling the operation of said dryer and disposed in the upper portion of said air passage, said control means and said heating means both being removable with said service unit.

13. A dryer comprising a housing having an opening in a wall thereof, said housing having a drying space and provided with means for supporting a rack, pan or the like, on which articles to be dried while in stationary position may be placed; a service unit closing said opening and removable from said housing, said service unit including an enclosed air passage extending from the upper portion of said unit downwardly and then rearwardly to a point beneath the drying space in said housing; means disposed in the lower portion of said passage for heating air and moving the same into the drying space within said housing; and means for controlling the operation of said dryer disposed in the upper portion of said air passage, said control means and said heating means both being removable with said service um 14. A dryer comprising a housing having a drying space adapted to contain articles to be dried, said housing having an air discharge passage at' the bottom thereof with an outlet at the rear and air discharge openings at the front adjacent each side of the bottom, said housing also including an opening to said air discharge passage adjacent each said air discharge front opening; means for supplying heated air to said drying space; and half perforate and half imperiorate lint catchers adapted to permit discharge of air through said air discharge passages and block said front openings, and alternatively to be reversed so as to block said openings to said air discharge passages and permit discharge of air through said front openings.

15. In a dryer, a housing having an air discharge opening adjacent a iirst wall, an alternative discharge opening immediately adjacent said rst opening, an air discharge outlet in another wall, and means defining a passage leading from said alternative discharge opening to said outlet; and a reversible lint catcher which is half perforate and half imperforate and is adapted to close either of said openings while permitting discharge of air through the other said opening.

15 Inza; dryer; ,asf'denedimclam 14, `wherein said reversible lin' catcher. comprises a; frame Werkt extendingv aroundtf a: screen' overi one half thereof, the:A otherrba'lfi thereof being a-solid plete.

ORVAL. D. MURRAY;

UNITED STATES'PATENTS' Number, Name Date Collinsf Aug; 29,` 1922 Number 1.6 Name; Date Sargent Oct. 17, 1922 Davis' Oct. 17, 1922 Sieben Feb; 27, 1923 Allen' Oct. 9, 1923 Wellsl May 12, 1925 Lindberg Nov.' 11) 1941 ONe114. Feb. 13, 1945 Forney Apr. 6,' 1948 Pokras: Aug; 2; 1949 Reiterl Feb. 21, 1950 

